Tutorial : Reduce oscam cpu (affected by cache-ex)

[tommys1]

INTRODUCTION:

Many board members know I have a large OSCAM cache (6k+). With large cache sizes usually means alot of CPU usage, especially for Cache EX mode 3. I have tried many OSCAM bins but all have same behaviour due to nature of how mode 3 cacheex works.

Config:

I have tested the following on Ubuntu but the methods should be applicable to all unix OS. If you are running multiple OSCAM per server then make sure the following "NICE" property is set in oscam.conf.

NICE = -1

Nice values range from 20 to -20. 20 = low priority, -20 = high priority.

If you have an oscam just for cache sharing then make sure the "nice=-1". If you are running other OSCAM or other CAMs on your UBUNTU then set "nice = -19" for those.

Effect

The above settings will ensure that when you are limited on CPU cycles then most of the CPU power will be given to actual CAMs (CSPs, CCcam, etc) which should prevent from clients seeing freezing/glitches and your cache exchange oscam will have lower priority.

CONCLUSION

Above are the best settings I have experimented with and should help with CPU throttling across OSCAMs and different CAMS.

[TV_LICENCE]

hi
I believe if you have at least pentium 4, before you should bother about CPU usage you will get into pipe limitation

[tommys1]

hi
I believe if you have at least pentium 4, before you should bother about CPU usage you will get into pipe limitation

I have core i7 and i do run into CPU bottle neck with my oscams! using the above has greatly help prioritise the CPU cycles.

[TV_LICENCE]

the screenshot above is using not clocked q9450
just curious what is your i7 model nr exact Ubuntu Version and how many oscam instances or/ and other emu running at the same time?

[CapNCooK]

It's difficult to compare CPU usage from server to server, since this is direcly related to settings like cacheex_maxhop=, filters etc, groups etc.
One thing is for sure, Oscam does need most CPU resources for cache-ex forwarding.

Also take note, that the nice= setting has different effects across different types of CPU's / systems.

--

An update for oscam which improves cache-flow vs. cpu-usage is underway.
This update will not directly lower CPU resources, but spreads the load better upon the available cpu threads.

Also oscam's garbage collector is improved, as this is currently limiting cacheflow and creating queue's.

more to come.

[TV_LICENCE]

as I said earlier screenshot above is from my q9450 .... these days it is quite moderate and many would say obsolete CPU

besides on same PC I run Apache as test web server, Play some shooters plus some other small every day tasks

I simply do not understand how Oscam may use ALL MY CPU RESOURCES?
before that could possibly happen they will all (Oscams) crash because of pipe limit.

[tommys1]

as I said earlier screenshot above is from my q9450 .... these days it is quite moderate and many would say obsolete CPU

besides on same PC I run Apache as test web server, Play some shooters plus some other small every day tasks

I simply do not understand how Oscam may use ALL MY CPU RESOURCES?
before that could possibly happen they will all (Oscams) crash because of pipe limit.

are you running cache ex3 on your oscam? if so what is your max hop size, number of users and cache size?

[TV_LICENCE]

I believe I asked you a question before ..... but you even do not bother to reply

[CapNCooK]

I believe I asked you a question before ..... but you even do not bother to reply

To who are you talking now.. ?

[TV_LICENCE]

I was talking to tommys1